3 Still-available free agents who could help Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been quiet early in 2020 NFL free agency but these still-available players could offer some help in the Steel City.

With the legal tampering period beginning on Monday, several teams were active in pursuing big-name free agents. The Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t one of them.

Besides applying the franchise tag to linebacker Bud Dupree, Pittsburgh was only active in-house the rest of the day, shedding cap by releasing the likes of linebackers Mark Barron and Anthony Chickillo and wide receiver Johnny Holton. Guard Ramon Foster also announced his retirement on Instagram before any move could be made regarding his future.

While their cap space needs work, there are still plenty of free agents that Pittsburgh could bring in that could make an immediate impact.

More from NFL Spin Zone

• Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
• Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
• Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
• Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
• Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens

3. Devonta Freeman, RB

Signing Devonta Freeman is a very low-risk, high-reward move for Pittsburgh. The former Pro Bowl running back had back-to-back seasons of 1,500 yards from scrimmage in 2015 and 2016, which earned him a five-year extension worth up to $41.25 million. Injuries put a damper on that contract, though, and the Falcons cut Freeman with three years remaining on the deal.

There are multiple options for Pittsburgh here. They could simply sign Freeman to a short-term, “prove it” deal with several incentives and have a backfield duo of Freeman and James Conner. Or, if they decide to move on from Conner by orchestrating a trade, they could then draft a guy like J.K Dobbins or Cam Akers to work with Freeman and Benny Snell to form a solid backfield trio.

Whichever way they go, Freeman to the Steelers makes a lot of sense.

2. Eric Ebron, TE

The Steelers badly lack depth at the tight end position. Nick Vannett is a free agent that won’t be back Pittsburgh will need someone opposite of Vance McDonald. Eric Ebron would give Ben Roethlisberger a vertical threat at that position. Moreover making McDonald the complement rather than the focal point at tight end could pay dividends for the Steelers offense on the whole.

1. Mike Daniels, DT

Javon Hargrave is officially gone and on his way to Philadelphia, leaving a large gap at defensive tackle. Dan McCullers is a nice backup, but not starting caliber. Mike Daniels was surprisingly let go by Green Bay before the 2019 season and appeared in just nine games for the Lions.

He would provide a solid veteran presence to be a placeholder of the position, and also allows the Steelers to draft a defensive tackle to groom behind him. The 2017 Pro Bowler should be relatively cheap on the market and could produce at a great value if given the right circumstance.